Are sections of Ukambani leaders trying to undermine Kalonzo Musyoka’s authority in the region?
The race for the 2022 Presidential elections is already taking shape with a number of alliances already being crafted. Sections of the Luhyia community have for instance already thrown their weight behind DP William Ruto.
One region that is yet to make a political statement so far is the Ukambani region. The region has got leaders fighting to gain control of the larger Kamba Community.
For a long time now, Kalonzo Musyoka has been known as the undisputed King of the region but with the entry of leaders like Kivutha Kibwana and Alfred Mutua, his Kingship Status have been questioned.
Leaders from Makueni and Machakos Counties have been seen as trying to undermine Kalonzo with Kalonzo’s allies even claiming that there is a plan to lock him out of the Presidential race come 2022.
Makueni, Kitui and Machakos governors have even revived the economic bloc to champion for the development of Ukambani region.
However, leaders from the region, specifically Kalonzo’s Kitui backyard are unhappy with the move. The feeling is that the three (Kibwana, Ngilu and Mutua) are out to checkmate the former vice president’s hold of the region’s support.
But Kibwana said yesterday that the Kamba community has, for no good reason, been outside the government for 10 years and also with no senior persons to negotiate for it..
“It is unfair for our legislators from Kitui to use abusive language against leaders from the other two counties and indeed any other regional leader,” he said
Kibwana even told off Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and asked his party leader to accept to be challenged in Ukambani politics.
The second-time governor said nothing stops him from contesting the presidency in 2022 despite Kalonzo-allied MPs threatening to crush him politically.
Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi led several legislators at the Kitui Goat Auction on Sunday in warning the Ukambani governors, Kibwana, Machakos’ Alfred Mutua and Kitui’s Charity Ngilu from ‘frustrating Kalonzo’s bid’.
The legislators said the community was banking on Kalonzo, who was present at the auction, to ensure Ukambani was part of the government after 2022 election.
But in a statement yesterday, Kibwana dismissed the narrative asking the propagators to read the Constitution which has declared Kenya a functioning democracy. He said the Kamba community “cannot be forced to support a leader”
“Only in a monarchical system that there is no possibility for a designated leader to be opposed.”
Do you think it is time Kalonzo stepped aside and left new leaders steer the Kamba Community Politically?